10.5.09

“Ruin and recovery are both from within.”  Epictetus

I remember after my motorcycle accident, there I was, hanging by my leg from a stirrup above me in my hospital bed when I came to.  The doctor said it was broken in so many places amputation might be a better idea and, for the next few days I struggled in despair–just about to give in.  But when the thought of being maimed really hit me, I told the doctor I wanted to keep it for sentimental reasons, even if it wouldn’t work.  And plus I hinted I’d crawl out of that hospital if he tried to cut it off!  That was the same stubborness that enabled me to eventually recover the use of it, get back on my horse (i.e. my motorcycle) and to also learn my own value from within.

The Rose Garden at Julia Davis Park, Boise, Idaho. (Actually the fake blue water looks okay…undrinkable…but kinda neat.)

9.10.09

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

I remember back when I quit my flunky sales job at the furniture store to work at my own furniture repair business full time.  It wasn’t an easy decision because there was a lot of security in having steady employment and I had a family to support.  But then after I took that single leap of faith–and a pretty bold move I thought–I never looked back.  Later, the magic was that my former boss not only subcontracted me to do his customer service work, I also got sales commission floor time whenever I minded the store for him.  He now treated me as an equal in the business and, I swear, it was just magical how simply going from employee to being self-employed changed everything.  All because he was now in competition for my time rather than the owner of it.

Photographed by Guy Mills (Natl. Geographic)

9.07.09

“One who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; one who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.”  Chinese Proverb

They say don’t ask dumb questions, don’t rock the boat, it’s all good.  Well, I think that attitude comes from getting so stuck in one’s own trip you forget that other’s have opinions. Whether it’s on the job or in the classroom, I’ve always found it’s bettter to force the question out–even at the risk of a little conflict.  Thus, avoiding the absolute embarassing moment that proves, once and for all time, not only to them but also to yourself, that you, indeed, prefer others sitting on your head!

9.05.09

“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.”  Anton Chekov (Russian playwright and master of the short story)

If I don’t use what I’ve learned, why should I bother to remember anything at all?  My mother would always stop us squabbling kids with, “Christ says to forgive and forget.” Boy howdy, how that last part did hurt!  Most of whatever I did to my brothers was based upon clear memory and pure retaliation.  That was my well of knowledge.  And now this Jesus Christ was kicking my butt with lessons.  Well, as I grew into “Christianity” I finally got the big picture.  I realized I could forget the anger I felt toward Roy and Vern, but that I’d still be able to kick their butts teaching them lessons!

Graffiti is so rare in Boise it successfully offers some artistic diversity here.

9.3.09

“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.”  Sven Goran Eriksson

As a boy I remember crawling on my hands and knees to the edge of a very scary diving board.  Why I was even there was on a dare from some smirky brat who wouldn’t leave me alone.  Trembling with fear, I peered over the edge with my skinny arms now wrapped around the board.  Voices were hollering dully from below, but I barely heard them over my prayer to God.  That was the first time I ever dived off a diving board–or should say fell off it.  But then after I realized the landing wasn’t so bad after all, my falls turned to real dives, and my dives to flips and cannonballs.